Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 1:38 PM
In the DnD Next forum, I have over time posted various suggestions for how to handle classes and multiclassing in DnD Next. I feel it is time to collect and update these ideas into a coherent whole. I'm not suggesting that what I outline below should be exactly how classes should be implemented in 5e; it is meant to serve as inspiration.
Assumptions: These are various assumptions I have made, some based on suggestions of mine not directly ties to classes. They are NOT central to my general suggestion, but put in to flesh out the classes:
- 5e will have healing surges more or less like 4e
- All classes have proficiency in simple weapons and light armor (though armor may trigger arcane spell failure as in 3e). Armor is classed light or heavy as in 4e.
- Weapons (both ranged and melee) are classed light or heavy. Light weapons use DEX for to-hit and damage, while heavy weapons (even longbows) use STR for to-hit and damage
- Powers in general are not At Will - Encounter - Daily as in 4e, though some class features work this way
- All divine spells except rituals are replaced with general at-will powers. Extra powers cain be gained through feats, similar to 4e Channel Divinity feats.
General ideas
There are 6 classes, each having a different primary ability: Fighter (STR), Rogue (DEX), Cleric (Con), Druid (WIS), Wizard (INT), Mystic (CHA).
Note: I have chosen CON for Clerics because of how they heal, see below.
Each class has 4 class features. Multiclassing works by selecting class features from different classes. You can select four features any way you like. When you increase a level, you can freely choose to increase in any of the classes you have features from.
Note: The above can also be seen as characters starting at level 4. Indeed, a variation could be to let characters choose one class feature each of the first four levels.
Hit points: All classes get healing surges equal to 6 + 2 x CON modifier and hits per level equal to 3 + CON modifier
Fighter (Primary ability STR, secondary ability CON)
Class features:
- Proficient with heavy armor
- Proficient with heavy military weapons
- Able to make two attacks with -2 attack to both
- Combat Challenge (like 4e)
Rogue (Primary ability DEX, secondary ability CHA)
Class features:
- Extra skills (extra skill points or extra trained skills)
- Proficient with light military weapons
- Able to make sneak attacks
- Manipulate Device (pick locks, make/disable traps)
Cleric (Primary ability CON, secondary ability WIS)
Class features:
- Healing (use own healing surge to heal other)
- Repel any two of Undead, Evil, Chaos, etc. (sustain: move)
- Chant (provide bonuses to group; sustain: move)
- Access to divine rituals
Druid (Primary ability WIS, secondary ability STR)
Class features:
- Summon Nature's Ally (encounter power)
- Plant Control (entangle, plant growth, etc.; sustain: move)
- Animal Friend (can befriend and speak to animals and ask them favors, like delivering messages)
- Access to divine rituals
Wizard (Primary ability INT, secondary ability DEX)
Class features:
- Spell School: Evocation
- Spell School: Transformation
- Spell School: Abjuration
- Access to arcane rituals
Mystic (Primary ability CHA, secondary ability INT)
Class features:
- Spell School: Enchantment
- Spell School: Divination
- Spell School: Illusion
- Access to arcane rituals